You’ve just gone through a layoff, or are simply looking for that next adventure. Wouldn’t it be nice, when you shift into job-search mode, to be able to put your full attention on the job search and not have to worry about a last minute marathon-resume-update-session?

Many of us keep our LinkedIn or FaceBook profiles regularly updated (we’ll talk about those at length in future Tips). Spend a bit of regularly scheduled time keeping your resume up to date.

I recommend setting a reminder on your calendar for the first of each month and taking a moment to quickly review what projects you’ve been working on. Pay particular attention to the following:

• What new technologies have you been learning? Take a moment to add a bullet-point to your resume while it’s still fresh in your mind.
• Remember, employers more than ever want to see what you have done and what technologies you have worked with. Your resume is your diary of that activity.
• With thousands of resumes in our databases, we scan resume directories for key words. Make sure you’ve taken the time to add them to your resume so that yours is one of the ones that comes up.

Incorporating the above simple practices will make all the difference between a lack-luster resume and an attention-grabbing one. Consider investing the time upfront for a bigger payoff on the back-end.

What this newsletter is about…

Right now, from an employer’s perspective it’s a buyer’s market for technical talent. There are lots of talented technical people vying for a limited number of positions. If you are currently engaged in a job search, you should be asking yourself the following questions:

• What’s going to make you stand out from the rest?

• Is there a way to help your resume rise to the top of the stack?

• Can something be done to increase your chances of being called in for an interview?

• And if so, what can be done to make you more desirable than the other candidates being interviewed?

These are the questions I will answer through this brief but informative monthly newsletter. Much of this will be new information for you. Some of it will simply be common sense (but those are often the easiest to forget and the best to review). Whichever the case, my goal is to make you as attractive as possible to potential employers and maximize your chances of getting hired.